Book rack



Mayr-1.9,k 1936. P W PENNINGTQN 2,041,017

BooK RACK Filed June 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 19, 1936. P. w. PENNINGTON BOOK RACK Filed June 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in book racks.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- Videv a book rack which may be very inexpensively manufacturedand which will be extremely durable and serviceable.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a book rack which may be cut from a single piece` of material or blank or which may Iv be die cast, stamped, pressed, or molded from any suitable material or composition of materials or any suitable alloys.

A stillfurther important object of the invention is to provide a book rack which is formedof three major parts adapted for being movable relative to each other from inoperative positions where all of the parts are arranged in a common plane to operative positions where-all of the parts are angularly arranged with respect to each other and wherein the various parts are intertted and associated with each other when in their inoperative positions to provide a substantially con-- tinuous or uninterrupted surface which may be` used as a writing surface or lap table.

Other objects and advantagesof the invention will be apparent in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate likeV parts throughout' the same,

Figure 1 is aV plan view of one form of book rack embodying this invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on lineV 2 2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3V is a similar view tofFig. 2 but discloses the three major parts of the rack angularly arranged in their relative operative positions,

Fig; 4Yis a plan view of a slightly modified form' 1 of book rack,

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a still further modified form of book rack, and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig; 5i.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown thepreferred embodiments of thisY invention, and referring particularly' to Figures-.1Y tol 3 inclusive, the' numeral I0' designates the: main bodyI portion of4 a book rack which is adapted to be formed from a single piece or blank of material, preferably wood, by having the various portions cut from said piece or blank. The said main body portion is of substantially rectangular formation and has an extension II formed on its upper edge.

A bracing leg I2 is cut from the central portion of the main body I and its extension II. By cutting the brace l2 from the body of the member Ill, an opening I3 is formed inthe body and in the central portion of the extension I I which will receive the brace member I2 when the latter is arranged in its inoperative position. For theV purpose of pivotally connecting the brace I2 to the extension II, a headed pivot pin I4 is passed through suitable holes drilled through the extension II and the upper end of the brace I2. A wing nut I5 is threaded on the free end of the pivot pin I4. For the purpose of dividing the extension II into two relatively movable portions, a kerf IIB is cut through the outer portion of the extension from its top face to the upper end of the opening I3. 'Ihis separating of the extension II into two relatively movable portions permits these portions to be drawn toward each other by means of the pin I4 and wing` nut I5- to` apply varying degreesof pressure andfriction against the opposite side faces of the brace member I2 Vso that this member may be retained in any de*- sired position of adjustment.

A book supporting shelf Il is cut from the lower portion of the body IS. The cutting of the shelf I2 from the said body leaves an opening I8 in the body which is designed to receive the said shelf when in its inoperative position, or when it isV ar ranged in the same plane as the body portion I0. Pivot pins I9 are driven into the opposite ends of the body portion IU and the shelf I'I and are ar-Y ranged in axial alignment with each other to pivotally connect the shelf I'I to the body I3.

The shelf I'I is notched at 20 and rearwardly relieved at 2|, as shown in Figures 2' and 3. The margin of the opening I8 formed in the body I0 is provided with a projection 22 which is arranged and properly shaped to enter the notch 20 when the shelf I'I is located in its inoperative position, or arranged in the plane of the body IIJ.

It will be seen by comparing Figures 2 and 3 that the notch 20 formed in the shelf I'I has its' bottom portion arranged in close proximity to the pivot axis of the shelf. The bottom of the notch 20 should be located closer to the axes of the pivot pins I9 than the edge portion 23 of the shelf soV that when the shelf is swung into its operative position, at right angles to the plane of the body I0, the bottom edge 23 of the shelf will bind against the Yextremity of the projection 22 to limit the outward swinging movement of the shelf.

Figures 1 and 2 disclose this book rack in its collapsed, folded up or inoperative position wherein the main body I0, the brace |2'and the shelf V|1 are all arranged in a common plane. The top or upper surface of these three elements cooperate, when so arranged,V to provide a substantially uninterrupted Vor continuous surface which will permit the folded rack to be used as a writing surface or a laptable.

The book rack disclosed in Figure 4 is designed primarily for'the purpose of permitting it to be supported on the users lap. The book rack shown in Figure l is intended to be supported on a table, or a desk, or the like. The book rack as shown in Figure 4 differs from the one shown in Figure 1 primarily with reference to the shape of the brace |221. This'brace is cut from the body portion |01 to form an opening |31 which will receive the brace when the latter is arranged in its inoperative position. The lower end portion of this brace |21 is provided with lateral, curved I extensions 24 to provide a curved surfaceV 25 whichisintended to t the top of the users leg.

- This brace arm I2a is pivotally connected to the extension I I1 of the body I0 Vin the same manner asV that disclosed in Figure 1, or byr means of the pivot pin |41. The extension I |a is provided with a kerf I6a to form the extension into two relativelyremovable parts which may be drawn toward each other by means of the wing nut I5 to fric- 4 tionally hold the brace in any desired position of adjustment.

A shelf |11 is cut from the lower portion Yof the body'la to provide an opening I8EL adaptedto receive the shelf when the latter is arranged in its inoperative position. Pivot pins |91 are f provided for pivotally connecting the shelf |1a to the body |011.

To limit the outward swinging movement of the shelf |12 relative to the body |01 the shelf is providedY with two notches 20a which are relieved in a rearward direction in the same manner as illustrated'in Figures 2 and 3 in connection with the first described. formY of the invention. These relieved surfaces have notrbeen disclosed in connection with the type of book rack 5 shown in Figure 4 for thatV reason.` The main body .la is provided with extensions 22*L which cooperate Vwith the notches 20a of the shelf '|18' in the same manner as that described for the projection 22 of the previously referred to book rack.-

'I'he lowerv edge of theY body portion |01" is cut away at 26 to provide a curved surface concentric with the curved surface 25 of the brace |221 and functions to fit the leg of the use r. l

VFigures and 6 disclose'a further form of book rack which is intended to be produced by die casting, stamping, rmoldinrg, or pressing thersame from'any suitable material, composition of materials, or alloy. In producing this form of book rack, the main body portion; the brace and the shelf, are adapted to be separately formed.

The main body |01 is produced with an extension |I1, an opening |31 extending vertically u of the body and a horizontally extending opening |61. A,All of the edgesY of the body |01 and its The` extension I|b is provided with a kerf twoopenings are provided with a 'flange 21 arranged at right angles to the plane of the body.

When this book rack is made by casting or of pressed plastic, ribs 28 are provided to prevent the body from checking or cracking on cooling A shelf |11 is pivotally arranged in theV opening |81 of the body and is pivotally supported by the bolts and nuts |91. The shelf |11D is provided with a notch'201 which is rearwardly relieved at 2|1. The body |01 is provided with a projection 221 which cooperates with the notch 201 and its relieved portion 2 I" in the same manner asthat described for the similar elements of the previously referred to book racks.

It will be notedthat all of the edges of the 'Y brace |21 and the shelf |11 are formed with marginalsanges 29 and 30 respectively. 'Y

Figure-5 4discloses the rear face of the'book rack with'its brace and shelf. The various flanges 21, 29 and 30 extend rearwardly fromY the main portions of the body I01, the brace |21 andy the shelf |11. The front faces of these three elements are flat and provide a substantially continuous` or uninterrupted surface as described in connection with the two previous forms of book racks.

It will bev appreciated that the book rack shown in Figures 5 and 6 may be patterned `after the rack shown in Figure 4 for adapting the sameV for use on a persons lap. Other features of con` struction which have been disclosed in connection with only one form of rack may be used onI other forms notwithstanding the fact that disclosures of such changes have not been provided. It is to be understood that the forms of this invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes'in'the shape, size. and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the 'spirit of the-invention or'V scope of the subjoined claims.

YHaving thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A book rack of the type described comprising a, main bordyportion having a pair'of `openings, aV shelf pivotally mounted in one of said openings, said shelf having a notch formed in one of its edges, a projection formed on said body portion and cooperating with said notch to limit pivotal movement. of said shelf, andV a brace pivotally mounted Yin the other of said openings.

2. A book rack of the type described comprisinga main body portion havingV a projection at its upper edge and an elongated opening extending partially into said projection, -the projection being split from said opening to its outer end to provide two relatively movable portions, a'

brace arm received in said opening, a pivot'pin for said brace arm extending through the two portions of said projection and adjustable to move said portions toward each other to apply aV variable degree of friction on said brace arm,.and a book supporting shelf on said body portion.Y

PAUL W. PENNINGTON; 

